Author: Kim Zachman

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King Of all the writing books I’ve read, Stephen King’s is my favorite. Just as the title says, it’s part memoir and part craft. Being the master storyteller that he is, King interweaves his personal journey from high school newspaper editor …

I always consider it a bonus when a sequel is as good as the original. But a sequel that is better than the original is a rare treat. SERAFINA AND THE TWISTED STAFF is that rare treat. In the first book, Serafina and the Black Cloak, we met Serafina who …

Middle Grade Mafia reads a lot of books and we think we have good taste in children’s literature, but what do we know? We’re adults. Children’s books are supposed to appeal to children. We wanted to know what kids like to read and why .From time to time, MGM will be interviewing the real experts in children’s literature…the media specialists.

Our first “From the Stacks” interview is with Jennifer Lewis, the media specialist at Indian Knoll Elementary in Canton, Georgia.

Middle Grade Mafia: How long have you been a media specialist? Why did you choose that career path?

Jennifer Lewis: This August, I will start my twentieth year of teaching and sixth in the media center. I enjoyed being a classroom teacher, but I pursued my school library degree because my true calling is in the library. I love exploring new technology and helping teachers use it in their classrooms, collaborating with teachers to plan engaging lessons, and of course sharing great books with students! I believe that I have the best job in public education!

MGM: What are some of the most popular series/authors with your students? And why do you think these books have such appeal?

JL: My students love: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans, Maximum Ride by James Patterson, Timmy Failure by Stephan Pastis, The Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, NERDS by Michael Buckley, Warriors by Erin Hunter, The Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell, and Bone by Jeff Smith. All of these series are either humorous or full of action. This is what my students are looking for in a great book series!

MGM: Is there a series or author that you wish your students would read but they don’t seem interested?

Editor Naomi Hughes tells us more about “Show, Don’t Tell. I saw a blog post on Twitter by freelance editor Naomi Hughes where she covered some of the most common problems she sees in manuscripts. It was packed with great advice. I asked Naomi if she could share some …

Darkus Cuttle’s dad works at the Natural History Museum in London. One day his father goes into a research room and disappears. The room was locked from the inside and there were no windows. The police are baffled. While authorities try to find his father, Darkus goes to live with …

In drought-stricken Mali, it’s common for boys to leave their homes to look for work across the border in the Ivory Coast. For the families, it meant less mouths to feed. For the boys, it means a better chance to eat and hopefully make money to send home. When Amadou …

We, in the Middle Grade Mafia, are proud members of Southern Breeze, the regional chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). We have the best SCBWI chapter in the world. (Hey, you want to brag about your chapter, write your own blog.) One reason Southern Breeze is …

When Lily’s blind dog Lucky runs off across the blueberry fields, Lily panics. She’s terrified that he’ll run into something and get hurt, like a car. But Lucky is saved by Salma Santiago and her peanut butter sandwich. Salma and her family are migrant farm workers who spend the summers …

World Read Aloud Day…to yourself. February 24, 2016 is World Read Aloud Day (WRAD). Presented by www.litworld.org and sponsored by Scholastic,WRAD encourages everyone within earshot of children to grab a couple of books and read to them. Sharing stories and sharing time is one of the best ways to bond …

This graphic novel was awarded a Newberry Honor this year. I haven’t jumped on the graphic novel bandwagon yet, but I thought if it earned a Newberry Honor, it must have some merit. So I read it and I’m so glad I did. After a fun evening watching Roller Derby, …